Mar 10, 2019

Remembering Mets History (1985): Straw's Walk Off HR Off John Franco

Saturday April 13th, 1985: Davey Johnson's '85 Mets showed they meant business right away, starting out the season with a dramatic walk off HR from their new star; Gary Carter, the Mets rolled out to a 4-0 start. On this Saturday matinee, 26,212 came out to Shea as the Mets hosted Pete Rose's Cincinnati Reds. Rose was inserted in the line up as he was one of baseball's last player/managers. Both teams would have fine seasons, but both finishing in second place. Today's starters were Ed Lynch for New York & Tom Browning for the Reds.

In the 2nd inning, the Reds scored first as Nick Esasky doubled & was driven in by veteran Red, Dave Concepcion. Concepcion & Rose were the last two members of the Red Big Red Machine Championship Days. George Foster playing for the Mets on this day, was another.

Tom Browning held the Mets down, until the 6th inning. Reds centerfielder Eric Davis misplayed Kelvin Chapman's flyball, which allowed him to get to third base. Keith Hernandez then drove him in with a sac fly to tie the game. Browning went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strike outs.

On the Mets side Eddie Lynch, also went seven, allowing just one run on four hits with one walk & two strike outs.

Native New Yorker & future Mets star John Franco came on to pitch for the Reds. He got out of trouble in the 8th, as Mookie Wilson had singled & Keith Hernandez walked. But Gary Carter grounded into a double play ending the inning.

In the bottom of the 9th Darryl Strawberry led off against Franco. Straw was 1-3 on the day having singled back in the 4th inning. Here Straw blasted his first of 29 HRs on the season, a walk off game winner off Franco. The Mets went to 5-0 to start the year.